Tool Time: Build and Burn Image Files with ImgBurn

ImgBurn is cool freeware that lets you work with images files in ISO and many other image file formats (e.g., BIN, IMG, MDS, NRG). Although ImgBurn is small (less than 2MB), it offers a lot of functionality. You can use it to build image files and burn them on CD-ROM and DVD disks.

ImgBurn has five modes:

Read (Create image file from disc in the EZ-Mode Picker). You use this mode to read the contents of a CD-ROM or DVD and create an image file on your computer.

Write (Write image file to disc in the EZ-Mode Picker). You use this mode to write an image file to a disk. You can queue the image files you want to burn.

Build. You use this mode to either create an image file from files on your computer (Create image file from files/folders in the EZ-Mode Picker) or write the files directly to a disk, without creating an image file (Write files/folders to disc in the EZ-Mode Picker).

Verify (Verify disc in the EZ-Mode Picker). You use this mode to determine whether a disk is 100 percent readable. You can also use it to compare a burned disk's image file against the source image file to ensure the data match.

Discovery (Discovery in the EZ-Mode Picker). You use this mode to check the quality of the burns your drive is producing.

ImgBurn supports all 32-bit and 64-bit Windows OSs (including Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7). After installation, you can copy ImgBurn to a USB drive. You can download ImgBurn from many sites, including its home page. However, people have reported problems with using that site's free download. I had no problems downloading it from CNET.